Britain, Australia and Canada are sending special forces to fight alongside U.S. troops, and France is considering a similar contribution.

Turkey's Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said the government decided to send troops after becoming convinced that the hard-line Taliban must be removed.

Cem told CNN: "In Turkey we believe that this is not a war that belongs to the United States alone. It's our war, Turkey's war, as well."

He added: "Of course, we don't want to have our soldiers getting shot and we want them to come back home safely.

"This is what the public opinion's main concern is and it seems with what the framework is we have put together we are minimising such risks, but, of course, in such an environment, no one can be sure of everything."

The Taliban are sheltering bin Laden, the main suspect in the September 11 terrorist attacks on the United States.

"The Taliban regime and its archaic practices pose a threat primarily to Central Asia, and to the world," Ecevit said at a news conference.

The Turkish force would also take on reconnaissance missions as well as protect and evacuate civilians, Ecevit's office said.

CNN Turk, citing unidentified sources, said an advance group of 15 soldiers would travel through Uzbekistan over the weekend to make the first contact with local forces and U.S. troops in Afghanistan.

Turkey's special forces are experienced in guerrilla warfare after fighting Kurdish rebels for more than 15 years in mountainous southeast Turkey.